Three Killed in Ferry Accident on Dhaleshwari River

Three people were killed after five vehicles, including a truck, plunged into the Dhaleshwari River from a ferry while crossing the river here. The accident occurred around 9:30 pm on Saturday in the midstream area between Baktabali and Narsingpur ghats under Sadar upazila. Two bodies were recovered from the river by the river police divers around 1:30 am, while another victim later died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

The deceased were identified as Singapore expatriate Masud Rana, 30, motorcycle rider Md Rafiq, 35, and rickshaw-van driver Swadhin, 25. Police said a ferry left Narsingpur ghat on Saturday night heading towards Baktabali ghat. When the ferry reached the middle of the river, a truck on board suddenly started, lost control and rammed into two battery-run auto-rickshaws, a motorcycle and a rickshaw-van standing in front of it. This movement broke the ferry's railing, causing the truck, along with the four vehicles, to fall into the river.

After the incident, the truck driver managed to swim ashore, but three persons went missing. Upon receiving the information, river police and fire service personnel started rescue operations that night. Motorcycle rider Rafiq was rescued in critical condition and taken to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Subsequently, the bodies of the other two missing persons, van driver Swadhin and Masud Rana, were recovered from the river by the river police.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Hasinuzzaman said a ferry from Narsingpur ghat was heading towards Baktabali ghat and when a truck on board suddenly started, lost control and broke the ferry's railing, causing the vehicles to fall into the river.  In the incident, one person died at the hospital and the bodies of two others were recovered from the spot, he added.